The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-23
Alderman Purcell Speaks Again.

alderman IufCtI1 hStIh
Editor of the PALATKA Jews:
Pardon me for again asking space In
your valuable columns to reply to the
editorial in THE News of the 22d inst.
|, as one, welcome newcomers, but, Sir,
we want such men to come among us as
intend to work, live and assist in build
ing up our city; men who will buy
homes, become taxpayers and orderly
citizens, and assist in bringing ABOUT that
boom in Florida that we have so much
boosted of; men who will go into our
piney woods, fell the pines, plant orange
and other fruit trees, plant and cultivate
vegetables, and thus become n potent
factor TO the country. Even though me
might fail after an honest trial. h. is to
be none the less thought of. When |
speak of laborers do not mean nor do
intend 10 be understood as meaning col
ored laborers. All laEOrers are the sarLe'
and when | say laboreIs | mean white
and colored alike.
/ admit that the Water-wOrks Com
pany has perfect right to work whOe yer
they see fit to, and their labOrers will be
treated all right SO far as violence or
even threats are concerned. No cOlOred
or white labOrer in this city would dare
disturb the laborers of that Company.
because Our labOrers are, as a rule,
good, sober, welI-behaved men. and, so
far as / am concerned, | would disdain
the idea of thinking to make, or to-
cause or encourage others to- make
threats against any class of men, but
to the contrary would do all IN my
power to- discourage any feelings of vio-
lenCe, and would try to invoke public
sentiment against the importation of
cheap and oppressed labor. that cannot,
or at least Will not, add single home
to our city.
Now, Mr.. Editor, | have always tried
to do my duty as a citizen, and nv voice
has always been heard against misrule
and oppression wherever II existed.
whether in the midst of my party or in
the ranks of the other party. | have
advocated every measure looking to the
improvement of this city, and if you will
but examine the records of our city gov
eminent you will find that while others
opposed, l advocated the cause of the
Water-works, and voted for the passage
of the ordinances giving the right of way
to said company thr, ugh the streets of
our city, and further voted for a special
tax to be levied to paw for our city S sup
ply of water. Still | have nothing to
retract from my former letter, and hope
the day will come when a cOlCred man
speaks of IabOrers he Will not I've quoted
as advocating the cause of cOlOred labor
ers simply, but of all labOreTs alike,
white. black, or any other labO". | 10
not object to working any class of men.
let him be Indian, Italian. or negro. but
the question is simply this, from a bust
ness standpoint, is it best to hIre men to
do work who will add nothing to the
prosperity of our county or city, or to-
employ men at living wages who will
spend their money with us, build homes.
and become part of us: With me il is
a question of business and not fancy. If
public work can De done with such labor
as will bene fit the promoters, and al the
same time benefit the city. give an i'm
petus to business, employ the unemploy-
ed, why not do it?
Now, Mr.. Editor. / have nothing more
to say, as | am anxious to see the Water
works completed, and other enterprises
looking to the a lvance ment of our city.
You stated in your article that have
always spoke and voted against you.
This l would he only too happy for YOU
To explain. /, in city affairs, advocated
a change; we have had a change, one
that has proven to the advantage of the
city. Compare the present condition of
Palatka to that of former days. The
men whom | advocated to he your Off
GERS, have placed you on n fair financial
basis, paid interest on Your bonds, di-
minlshed the public de bt Cancelled many
of your bonds, brought the city scrip
from 40 cents on the dollar to 90, and to-
day pay cash for all work done ON our
streets, transforming your city from
cows pasture To a beautiful city: and
you may depend upon it, you will al
ways find me advocating what / con-
slider right and just, and to the best adj
vantage of the many.
| honor and admire true competition,
but not competition with pauper labor.
|, as a working man, would rather COM
pete against convict labor than the pau
PEI labor imported from Italy.
Now, Mr.. Editor, | am done. | have
nothing more to say, but | honor you
and your valuable paper for so fearlessly
expressing your sentiments, but at the
same time allow me the tight TO think
and act for myself, and give proper res
pect to others though you might differ
in some matters. Yours for good gov
eminent. |. l.. PURCELL.